ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal appeals court is considering a challenge to a Georgia law that bans the immediate family of superintendents, principals and other school administrators from running for election to a local school board.

A federal judge struck down the law in April, but state officials asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday to reinstate it.

A current school board members and a former school board member sued Secretary of State Brian Kemp months after the law took effect in 2009, saying they have a fundamental right to be a candidate.

But state officials say the restrictions are needed to combat nepotism.

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